Present vs Instant - What's the difference?
present | instant |
Relating to now, for the time being; current.
* , chapter=12
, title= Located in the immediate vicinity.
(obsolete) Having an immediate effect (of a medicine, poison etc.); fast-acting.
*, II.5.1.v:
(obsolete) Not delayed; immediate; instant.
* Shakespeare
* Massinger
(dated) Ready; quick in emergency.
(obsolete) Favorably attentive; propitious.
* Dryden
A gift, especially one given for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, or any other special occasions.
* , chapter=7
, title= (military) The position of a soldier in presenting arms.
To bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.
To nominate (a member of the clergy) for an ecclesiastical benefice; to offer to the bishop or ordinary as a candidate for institution.
To offer (a problem, complaint) to a court or other authority for consideration.
* 1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 71:
(reflexive) To come forward, appear in a particular place or before a particular person, especially formally.
* Bible, Job i. 6
To put (something) forward in order for it to be seen; to show, exhibit.
* Alexander Pope
To make clear to one's mind or intelligence; to put forward for consideration.
* 1927 , (Arthur Conan Doyle), The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes :
* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
, author=Steven Sloman
, title=The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation
, volume=100, issue=1, page=74
, magazine=
To put on, stage (a play etc.).
(military) To point (a firearm) at something, to hold (a weapon) in a position ready to fire.
(reflexive) To offer oneself for mental consideration; to occur to the mind.
(medicine) To appear (in a specific way) for delivery (of a fetus); to appear first at the mouth of the uterus during childbirth.
(medicine) To come to the attention of medical staff, especially with a specific symptom.
To act as presenter on (a radio, television programme etc.).
To give a gift or presentation to (someone).
To give (a gift or presentation) to someone; to bestow.
* Cowper
To deliver (something abstract) as though as a gift; to offer.
To hand over (a bill etc.) to be paid.
A very short period of time; a moment.
* She paused for only an instant , which was just enough time for John to change the subject.
A single, usually precise, point in time.
* The instant the alarm went off, he fled the building.
An instant beverage or food, especially instant coffee.
A day of the current month (abbreviated as : )
* In response to your letter of the twenty-first instant...
(dated) Impending; imminent.
* Prior
(dated) Urgent; pressing; acute.
* Bible, Rom. xii. 12
* Carlyle
Occurring immediately; immediate; present.
* Fuller
* {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
, title=
, chapter=2 Lasting for a short moment; momentary; short-lived.
Very quickly and easily prepared.
Of the current month (abbreviation inst.).
* “I refer to your letter of the 16th inst. in regard to traffic disruption”
(poetic) At once; immediately.
* 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I.182:
In lang=en terms the difference between present and instant
is that present is ready; quick in emergency while instant is urgent; pressing; acute.As adjectives the difference between present and instant
is that present is relating to now, for the time being; current while instant is impending; imminent.As nouns the difference between present and instant
is that present is the current moment or period of time while instant is a very short period of time; a moment.As a verb present
is to bring (someone) into the presence of (a person); to introduce formally.As an adverb instant is
at once; immediately.present
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic or pedantic) *Etymology 1
(wikipedia present) From (etyl), from (etyl), from (etyl) praesent-, praesens present participle of .Adjective
(-)- The barbaric practice continues to the present day.
The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=All this was extraordinarily distasteful to Churchill. It was ugly, gross. Never before had he felt such repulsion when the vicar displayed his characteristic bluntness or coarseness of speech. In the present connexion […] such talk had been distressingly out of place.}}
- Amongst this number of cordials and alteratives I do not find a more present remedy than a cup of wine or strong drink, if it be soberly and opportunely used.
- a present pardon
- An ambassadordesires a present audience.
- a present wit
- to find a god so present to my prayer
Antonyms
* (in vicinity) absentDerived terms
* all present and correct * at present * at the present time * present company excepted * presently * present participle * present tenseDerived terms
* no time like the present * present-dayEtymology 2
From (etyl) presenten'', from (etyl) ''presenter'', from (etyl) ''presentare'' "to show", from (etyl) ''praesent-, praesens'' present participle of ''praeesse "to be in front of".Noun
(en noun)The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=“A very welcome, kind, useful present , that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing. […]”}}
Verb
(en verb)- to present an envoy to the king
- In the diocese of Gloucester in 1548 two inhabitants of Slimbridge were presented for saying that holy oil was ‘of no virtue but meet to grease sheep’.
- Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord.
- So ladies in romance assist their knight, / Present the spear, and arm him for the fight.
- I do begin to realize that the matter must be presented in such a way as may interest the reader.
citation, passage=Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented' to citizens affects what they choose, society should ' present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control.}}
- The theater is proud to present the Fearless Fliers.
- Well, one idea does present itself.
- The patient presented with insomnia.
- Anne Robinson presents "The Weakest Link".
- She was presented with an honorary degree for her services to entertainment.
- My last, least offering, I present thee now.
- I presented my compliments to Lady Featherstoneshaw.
Derived terms
* present armsStatistics
*External links
* * *instant
English
Alternative forms
* instaunt (obsolete)Etymology 1
From (etyl) . More at (l), (l).Noun
(en noun)Etymology 2
From (etyl) and (etyl) instant, from (etyl) ; see state.Adjective
(-)- Impending death is thine, and instant doom.
- Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
- I am beginning to be very instant for some sort of occupation.
- The instant time is always the fittest time.
citation, passage=No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.}}
- instant coffee
Derived terms
* instantize, instantise * instantly * instant replayAdverb
(-)- He left the room for his relinquished sword, / And Julia instant to the closet flew.
